Scott Avett ~ Untitled Two

Love.

Paseo Arts Festival

Wow, I am really behind on my blogging!  We went to The Paseo Arts Festival a while back.  Paseo is such a cool area.



I'm sure there was a lot of great local art there, but unfortunately it was very hot & muggy that day and there was a lot of whining from our mini-me's.  So we didn't get to leisurely browse through the art like we had hoped.  It's days like this that we think "why didn't we get a sitter?"

We got to hear some cool  music.  I think that was my first time hearing someone play a washboard. 

The architecture in the Paseo area is so unique.  I love driving around, looking at the houses and buildings.

The Avett Brothers ~ "Laundry Room" at Bonnaroo

I've posted this before, but it's so good I had to post again.  If I had to choose one song to be the last I ever heard, it would be this version of "Laundry Room".  I just never get tired of watching this amazing performance.  And those Avett brothers aren't too hard on the eyes either. ;)

Daydreaming

I have a few big items on my wish list.  Since we are currently trying to be very frugal, these purchases aren't in the cards right now.  So for now, I am daydreaming about...

I drive a 12 year old GMC that we bought used 7 years ago.  It's been a great car until the last year.  And really, it's still not too shabby.  Old cars just need a lot of maintenance.  But I have the new {to me} car bug.  I have thought long and hard and decided I want a black Ford Edge, when the time comes.  I only buy American cars.  This is something that was ingrained in me by my Dad.  And now that I'm older, I can really appreciate where he was coming from.  I've decided on the Ford Edge because I think it's cute, just the right amount of roominess for our family of 4 and it has a high safety and quality rating.  And the big reason is that a used one is affordable.  I would definitely buy used.  New cars are so over priced.  So one day, I hope to be sporting this car. 

I would absolutely love an in-ground pool.  We spend most of our time at home and I'm a firm believer in making your home what you want it to be.  We'll never be the kind of family to take extravagant vacations.  Mainly because it's too much hassle and too much money.  So I think a pool would be fabulous.  We'd save our money and stay home!  And talk about good exercise.  I also like the idea of the kids staying home to hang out when they're teenagers. 

And my last big day dream purchase is a travel trailer to go camping.  When we do take vacations, I'd love for them to be camping trips to different areas of Oklahoma.  Before kids, I was a "rough it" in the woods kind of girl.  But with kids, I would like a little more shelter from the elements.  This would be awesome!

Yogalosophy

I have had a love/hate relationship with exercise for years now.  I know I need to do it for my health and to set a good example for my kids.  I know I'll feel better after the fact.  I know all the common sense facts about the benefits of exercise.  Yet, I've hated everything I've tried.  And the bottom line is, if I don't enjoy something, I'm not going to do it long term. 

I've had elliptical phases.  Running on a machine like a monkey, watching music videos on my phone.  Checking the clock every 30 seconds to see if my time is up yet.  I have tried pretending to enjoy it.  But I hate it. 

I've had walking phases.  I've walked up and down my hilly road over and over.  But having two kids, my only options of doing this are either the crack of dawn before the kids are up and Allen needs to leave for work.  Or at the end of they day.  Well, I'm not a morning person and do not enjoy walking in the dark.  And I have zero energy left at the end of the day so why the heck would I want to leave my family to walk up and down a road.  I've also tried taking the kids along with me.  While this is a fun adventure for the family, it is definitely not a calorie burning workout for this Momma.

I had a Jillian Michaels workout phase.  That girl is crazy.  Enough said.

I've had workout dvd phases.  I like this concept because I can do it any time of day, with or without kids.  But it requires gear.  The dvd I have has me dragging kitchen chairs into the living room, laying on couch cushions in the floor, and using weights.  There's lots of get up, lay down, go faster, repeat.  It's a little annoying after a while. 

But I recently read an article on Yoga and decided to try it.  I decided to go with Mandy Ingber's Yogalosophy.  She's Jennifer Aniston's yoga girl so I figured, if she works for Jennifer, she's gotta work for me.  I liked the idea of Yogalosophy because it combines yoga poses with toning exercises.

Let me just tell you how much I LOVE it.  I mean really, I enjoy it!  I've been doing it for a week and I think I'm actually craving it.  Here's why I love it so much:

* It fits into my life.  It's 35 minutes.  That's it.  I don't need gear or much space.  I do it in my bedroom in a small space between the bed and the dresser.  How simple is that?  I can do it any time of day.  I can do it and then go somewhere because I don't get disgustingly sweaty.  I can turn a cartoon on for the kids and run in the bedroom and do my thing before they even realize I was missing.  {They are very clingy these days.  It is very heart warming that they love me so much that they want to be with me every second of the day.  But at the same time, it's getting very challenging to get anything done.}

* It feels good!  I actually enjoy the feeling.  Now there's a first.  The toning exercises are grueling, but as soon as you do one, you switch to a yoga pose, which feels great.  I feel extremely relaxed when my 35 minutes are over.

* I'm a deep thinker and there's a "deepness" to yoga.   The idea of connecting to your inner self and to a higher power.  It's my 35 minutes of the day to connect. 

* I totally get Mandy Ingber's personality.  She's funny and real and not annoying at all. 

* I already feel stronger.  Seriously, after one week I feel stronger.  I love the idea of getting strong just by using your own body.  No weights, no gear, no bs.  Just balancing and holding your body in a certain position.  It's awesome.

We've Got The Love

I was really moved by a story that was told at church a few weeks ago: {I'm paraphrasing}

A woman heard a knock at the door.  She opened the door to find three men standing there.  She invited them to come in, but they told her she could only invite one into her home.  They told her their names...Love, Wealth and Success.  They told her to discuss it with her husband to decide who to invite in.  She and her husband discussed the matter and, at first, we're very tempted to invite Wealth into their home.  But upon further thought, they decided to invite Love in.  The woman opened the door and asked Love to come in.  He walked into the house and the other two men followed him.  She asked, "why did you all three come in if I could only invite one?" The men then explained to her that if she had invited Wealth or Success, only one could have come in.  But because she invited Love, they all could enter the house.  Because where Love goes, Wealth and Success must follow.

Isn't that a great message?  One thing's for sure, Love is in our home.  Maybe one day, his friends Wealth and Success will follow.  And we can all live happily ever after. :)

Bon Iver ~ "Holocene"

Bon Iver's new self titled album came out today.  Here's one of my favorite songs so far.

The Rolling Stones ~ "Beast of Burden"

An old favorite of mine.

Interpol ~ "Lights"

Arcade Fire ~ "Wake Up"

Awesome!